Homeownership Program, and more

October 25, 2024


 
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Dear Neighbor,
Happy Friday!  I want to start off by sending my heartfelt condolences to the Wethersfield Fire Department and the family of Firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr., who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. People like Robert remind us that we can never take these heroes for granted. If you see a public servant today, please make sure to thank them.
 
Great news for low and moderate-income homebuyers in Connecticut!

This week, the State Bond Commission approved $40 million in state funding that will be used to reopen the popular

Time To Own program to a new round of applicants.
 
Time To Own has helped thousands of people buy their first homes since launching in 2022. The program provides forgivable loans for down payments and closing costs and has enabled individuals and families to achieve the dream of homeownership, fostering long-term financial stability and contributing to stronger communities.
 
To date, Time To Own has helped more than 4,800 homebuyers in 149 towns buy their first homes, more than half of whom are people of color. With the new funding allocation, Connecticut has invested $195 million in the program.
 
Connecticut has a fabulous free resource in the Office of Health Advocate (OHA), an independent state agency available to help everyone understand, navigate, and resolve health care insurance plan decisions on coverage, billing, denials of services and claims, and other health care related issues.

The OHA also helps if you believe an insurance company wrongly denies a procedure. Kathy Holt, the Acting Healthcare Advocate, recently shared a couple of encouraging stories. The first involves an insurance company that denied a woman’s prior authorization for a medically necessary outpatient procedure to treat varicose veins. The OHA intervened, and the insurance company approved the procedure, saving that woman $3,667.
The second story involves a person who unsuccessfully tried to get coverage for a year-and-a-half for specialized glasses she needed to see after recovering from a stroke. The OHA team obtained a one-time exception from the insurance company saving that person $3,600.

If you need assistance with health care insurance, contact the Office of Health Advocate at (866) 466-4446 or (860) 331-2440 or

send an email here. The OHA may provide relief from your insurance confusion.
 
Governor Lamont has announced $30 million in state bonding will go toward improving our state parks and forests. The funding will support much-needed infrastructure repairs and renovations across Connecticut’s 110 state parks and 32 state forests, ensuring a better experience for everyone who wants to spend time in the great outdoors.
This funding supports the Restore CT State Parks initiative, which is an historic effort by the Lamont administration and the state legislature to address the backlog of needed repairs. Since 2022, the state has committed more than $70 million of American Rescue Plan Act and state bond funds to support investment in outdoor recreation.
Click here for a list of projects in our state parks system
Improving our parks and forests will benefit everyone in the state. Access to parks promotes physical fitness by hiking, biking, jogging, and so much more. Being outside also helps our mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. Additionally, parks provide recreational spaces where families can come together. Ultimately, this investment will increase the quality of life while preserving Connecticut’s natural beauty.
 
Sincerely,

Juan Candelaria
State Representative
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